Fuel control means for alpha hydrocarbon burner



Feb. 16, 1932. J. L. BREESE; JR

FUEL GDHTROL MEANS FOR A HYDROCARBON BURNER Filed May 14. 1927 sShuts-Sheet; 1

Jawwf 6 J? Fgh 16, 1932. J. L. BREESE, JR

File d May 14. 1927 -FUE'L CONTROL MEANS FOR A HYDRQGARBON BURNER 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb 16, 1932. J. L. BREESE, JR

FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR A HYDROCARBON BURNER Filed May 14, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMESL. BREESE, 33-, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASBIGNOR TO OIL DEVICES CORPORA-T1011, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FUEL CONTROLMEANS FOltA HYDBOCABBON BURNER Application filed Bay 14,

My invention relates to a fuel control means for a hydrocarbon burnerand has for particular purpose the provision of means for controllingthe flow or a liquid hydrocarbon fuel. Another purpose is the provisionof a thermostatically controlled fuel re ulation. Another purpose is theprovision o l a thermostatic control, with means for cutting 0d thesupply of fuel when the temperature rises above a predetermined point,and for supplemently increhsing the normal supply of fuel when thetemperature drops below a predetermined point. Another object is therovision of an improved overflow control. ther objects will appear fromtime to time in the course oi the specification and claims.

it illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a vertical section of mydevice with parts in elevation and with the electric circuitsdiagrammatically shown;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the control device proper, with the coverremoved;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure l 15 a section on the line 4-4; ofv

Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

A generally indicates the outer shell or drum of a hydrocarbon burner, Abeing the upper or combustion chamber. A is a trans verse partitioncentrally ap'ertured as at A; Seated in the aperture 3 is the mixingdrum or chamber A with the concave bottom A. The drum is provided with aplurality of small apertures A spaced in general uniformitv about theintermediate and lower portion of its walls. Adjacent the upper edge ofthe walls is a row A of larger and upwardly in- 1927. Serial No.191,296.

from any suitable oil supply to the float chamber generally indicated asC. B is an oil line extending from said float chamber and communicating,by the elbow B with the bottom A of the mixing chamber A 13 is a gasline which extends into the union member B and axially along the pi e Bto terminate as at 18 within the distri utor member A in the mixingchamber at a level above the normal level of admittance of the liquidfuel. B is a bushing member adapted to receive the fuel line B. It maybe secured in relation to the burner for example by the set screw 13 inthe hollow member B which is secured as atB" to the drum A.

Referring more particularly to the flow chamber, as shown in Figures 2and follow ing the fuel line B communicates with the initial admissionchamber 0- in which is p0- sitioned the strainer C yieldingly thrustupwardly by the spring C against an upper abutment C. C is a removablescrew threaded plug which engages the spring C and which permits removalof the strainer and access to the chamber C G is a fuel passageextending upwardly from said chamher and controlled by the valve memberD. This valve member is pivoted -to the end of a lever D which lever isin turn pivoted as at D closely adjacent its connection with the valvemember D. Its opposite end is downwardly turned as at D and is securedto the float D. It willbe understood that when the level of oil in thefloat chamber is below the predetermined normal oil flows through thepassage B and the passage C and escapes over the ledge C to the floatchamber proper indicated as C". D is a shield, associated with the valveD, and adapted to prevent any substantial upward gush of the inflowingfuel.

As shown in Figure 5 the ledge C is bounded at one end by a raisedportion (1 through which extends the outlet or overflow passage C Eindicates a transverse rod upon which is pivoted the weight E Preferablyformed integrally with such weight is the lever E to the end of which ispivoted a stem E extending downwardly through the passage C. Itterminates at its lower end in the hook E to which may be securedthebail E of the overflow control bucket E. E is a laterally projectinglug herein shown as associated with the lever E, and E is acorresponding lateral projection mounted upon E. It will be understoodthat in case the float chamber becomes so filled that oil flowsdownwardly through the over-flow passage C and fills the bucket, theweight of the bucket will trip the counterweight E- and will cause it totake the position shown in dotted line in Figure 3. In such case theprojection E will contactthe lever D and rotate it about its ivot D insuch wise as to close the valve and prevent further admission of fuel.On the other hand, if the trip bucket E is removed from the hook E thecounterweight E will drop to the position shown in dotted line in Figure4. In such case the lug E will contact the lever D and close the valveD. Thus no fuel can flow into the float chamber unless the overflowbucket is in position, and no fuel can flow into the chamber when theover-flow bucket is sufliciently full to tilt the weight E to theright'of the position in which it is shown in full line in Figures 3 and4. When the over-flow bucket E is in position, and is not so filled, itis normally held, by the weight E in the full line position shown,

being drawn up against the bottom of the float chamber.

The weight E is kept in proper position in relation to the lever D, forexample by the spacing sleeves E E on the pin E. E is-a semi-circularguard to protect the overflow bucket E.

The fuel line B is connected with a downward rojection or boss Gpositioned on the side of the float chamber opposite to the inletchamber C. .It is provided with an aperture Gr in opposition to the endof the line B, access to which may be had by removal of the square endedscrew G, asshown in Figure 3. In communication with the space-G are twoducts G G which in turn communicate with the vertical apertures G G.Screw threaded in these apertures are the valve cylsponsive totemperature conditions. the lever E at the opposite side of the rodinders G in the lower ends of which are screw threaded the valve seatsG. G G are valve stems slidable in the bearing members G which are screwthreaded into the upper ends of the sleeves G. The upward movement ofsaid stems is limited bya pin or stop-G adjustment of the valveexcursion being obtainable by rotation of the screw threaded members G.The valve cylinders G are apertured as at G" to receive the oil passingthrough the circular screen members G which are held in position bytension springs G, one end being frictionally engaged by the threadedmembers G Each valve cylinder G is provided with an air hole G above thefuel level. vent member extending upwardly from the passage G to thepoint well above the highest possible fuel level.

I prefer to render the valves G G Trlee thermostatic control may bebased upon temperatures adjacent the burner or u on local or roomtemperatures taken elsew ere, depending upon the needs of the articularinstallation. Referring to; the iagrammatic portion of Figure 1 Hindicates the house current which may for example be a 110 volt current.H is the primary coil of a transformer, in such house circuit and H is asecondary coil of such transformer. H is a conductive line extendingfrom one end of said secondary coil H to the terminal H. H is aconductive line extending from the opposite end of the secondary coil toany suitable thermostatic leaf H. Op osed to such leaf are the contactsH an H. When the temperature rises to a redetermined point the leaf Hwill touc said contacts, for example H and the six volt current willpass through such contact along the conductive line H to a terminal H.On the contrary when the temperature dro s to 'a redetermined degree acircuit will closed through the opposite contact H and the six voltcurrent w1ll pass alon the conductive line H to the terminal G is an airone of II are generall similar bi-metallic thermostatic strips WhlCh areadapted to flex in opposite directions in response to similar changes intemperature. I and I are resistance members or coils associatedrespectively with the leaves I and I.

The leaves are apertured at their outer ends as at I I to receive theupper ends of the valve stems G' and G The cross pins G" G of said valvestems engage the upper surface of the thermostatic leaves.

It will be understood that when the leaf H deflects to the right, asshown in Figure 1, and closes the circuit through the contact H andconductor H the circuit is continued through the resistance I by meansof the conductive connection I from the terminal H to the from theresistance to the return terminal H it to the return terminal H When theleaf H is in intermediate position and neither resistance is actuated,the leaf it and the resistance P will be in the po sition shown indotted line at the right of Figure 6 and the valve stem G will beupwardly withdrawn to permit a flow of fuel through the aperture G andthe duct G into the fuel line B. As long as the temperature remainswithin the predetermined range, fuel will be supplied to the fuel line Bthrough but a single duct. However when the temperature exceeds thepredetermined normal and the resistance l is heated, the leaf ll flexesto the position shown in full line at the right of Figure 6 and thevalve G is permitted to drop into closed position.

if the temperature drops below the desired normal range, the resistancel is of course not heated and the valve stem G remains in open position.But the resistance l becomes heated and the leaf ll flexes upwardly intothe position shown in dotted line in Figure 6. This fleaure of the leafcauses it to lift the valve stem Gr", thus permitting fuel to flow tothe line B through the duct G The valve unit is protected by a cover Kfastened to the float chamber U by screws K lt will be realized thatwhereas I have shown and described a practical and opera tive device,nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number anddisposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.l therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broadsense diagrammatic and illustrative rather than as limitingine to myspecific showing.

l claim:

l. ln a fuel control device for a h drocarbon burner, a fuel chamber, afue line to said chamber, a fuel line extending from said chamber to theburner, a plurality of ducts between said chamber and said lastmentioned fuel line, valve members adapted to control said ducts,thermostatic members adapted to actuate said valve members, resistancemembers associated therewith, and actuating circuits therefor, and meansresponsive to temperature changes, for closing said circuits.

2. In a fuel control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a fuel chamber, afuel line to said chamber, a plurality of ducts between said chamber andsaid last mentioned fuel line, valve members adapted to control saidducts, thermostatic members adapted to actuate said valve members,resistance members associated therewith, and actuating circuitstherefor, and means responsive to tempera ture changes,for closing oneof said circuits in response to a predetermined rise in term perature,and for closing another of said circuits in response to a predetermineddrop in temperature.

3. In a fuel control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a fuel chamber, afuel line to said chamber, a fuel line extending from said chamber tothe burner, a'plurality of ducts between said chamber and said lastmentioned fuel line, valve members'adapted to control said ducts, athermostatic member adapted to control each such valve, one of saidvalves being normally open, the ther-- mostatic member therefor beingadapted to close it upon a predetermined rise in temperature, andanother valve being normally closed, the thermostatic member thereforbeing" adapted to open it upon a predetermined drop in temperature.

4. Incontrol means for a liquid fuel a bloat chamber, a fuel inlet, aplurality of outlet ducts, and valves adapted to control each such duct,and means for independently op erating said outlet valves in response totemperature variations, including a thermostatic leaf for each suchvalve, a resistance associated therewith, actuating circuits for suchresistances, and temperature responsive means for selectively closingsuch circuits.

5. In control means for a liquid fuel a float chamber, a fuel inlet, aplurality of outlet ducts, and valves adapted to control each such duct,means for independently operating said outlet valves in response totemperature variations, including athermostaticleaf for each such valve,a resistance associated therewith, actuating circuits for suchresistances, and temperature responsive means for selectively closingsuch circuits, one of said leaves being adapted to hold its valvenormally open, and to close it in response to a predeterminedtemperature rise, the other being adapted to open a normally closedvalve in response to a predetermined temperature drop. v

6. Ina fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a fuelchamber, a fuel line in communication with the chamber, extending to theburner, a plurality of inlet ducts interposed between said chamber andsaid fuel line, valves controlling said ducts and thermostatic controlmeans for said valves, said thermostatic control means includingthermostatic strips, resistance ele ments associated therewith and meansfor passing a current through said resistance elements in response tochanges in temperature, the circuit for one of said resistance elementsbeing adapted to be closed in response to decreases in temperature andthe circuit of the other being adapted to be closed in response toincreases in temperature.

llld

7 In a fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a floatchamber, a fuel inlet to said float chamber, a plurality of fuel outletsfrom said float chamber and valves therefor, control members for saidvalves and thermostatic control means therefor including a thermostaticconductive strip responsive to adjacent temperature, contacts adapted tobe opposed to said strip at the 10 opposite termini of its movement inresponse to fluctuations of temperature, a plurality of circuits, eachsuch circuit adapted to actuate one of said members and including one ofsaid terminals, and an electric connection whereby each such circuit isclosed and such control member is operated when the ther-.

mostatic conductive strip engages the con-- tact with which such circuitis associated.

8. In a fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a floatchamber, means for delivering a liquid hydrocarbon fuel thereto, a fueloutflow line in communication with the chamber, extending to the burner,an outlet duct interposed between said float chamber andsaid fuel line,a valve adapted to control said duct, and thermostatic control means forsaid valve, said thermostatic con trol means includin a thermostaticstrip within the float chamber, a resistance element associatedtherewith, and means for passing a current through said resistanceelement in response to changes in temperature, said strip being mountedatone end upon the float chamber structure, the body and other end ofthe strip being free to flex, and an actuating connection between thefree end of the strip and said valve.

9. In a fuel control device for a hydrocarbon burner, a float chamber, afuel line extending to said chamber, a float in said float chamber, aninlet valve and control means interposed between said valve and saidfloat adapted to actuate said valve in response to changes in level ofsaid float, a fuel line extending from said chamber to the burner, aplurality of outlet ducts extending from said float chamber to said fuelline, and differential means for controlling said ducts in response totemperature variations, said means being adapted,'at predeterminednormal temperature, to maintain one of said ducts closed and one open.

10. The structure ofclaim 9 characterized by the provision of meansadapted to open the normally closed duct in response to predeterminedtemperature drops, and to close the normally open duct in response topredetermined temperature rises.

11. The structure of claim 9 characterized in that a plurality of outletducts are provided with a separate valve for each, and a thermostaticcontrol strip being provided for the actuation of each said valve, eachsuch strip having associated therewith a resistance element, means beingprovided for actuating said resistance elements in response totemperature conditions remote from the thermostatic strips.

12. In a fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, afloat chamber, a fuel inlet to said float chamber, a fuel line extendingfrom said float chamber toward the burne r, an outlet from said chamberto said fuel line, an air vent for the fuel line adjacent said outlet, avalve adapted to control said outlet,

and an air vent in communication with the float chamber side of thevalve, said air vent extending to a level above the maximum level of thefuel in the float chamber.

13. In a fuel supply andcontrol device for a hydrocarbon burner, a floatchamber, a fuel inlet to said float chamber, a. fuel line extending fromsaid float chamber toward the burner, a plurality of outlets. from saidchamber to said fuel line, valves for said outlets, and air vent meansin communication with the float chamber side of each said valve, saidair vent means extending to a level above the normal maximum level ofthe fuel in the float chamber.

14. In a fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, afloat chamber, a fuel inlet to said float chamber, a fuel line extendingfrom said float chamber toward the burner, an outlet from said chamberto said fuel line, a valve for said outlet, an air vent for the outletin communication with the float chamber side of the valve, and air ventmeans extending from said fuel line, adjacent said outlet, to a levelabove the normal maximum level of the fuel in the float chamber.

15. In a fuel supply and control device for a hydrocarbon burner, aunitary float chamber housing, a float chamber, and a float therein, afuel inlet to said housing, a valve for said inlet, and means,responsive to said float for normally controllin said valve, -a fuelline extending from sai float chamber to said burner, an air vent forsaid fuel line, a valve seat for said fuel line, positioned within saidfloat chamber member, a valve opposed thereto and means for controllingsaid valve, and atubular member upward y extending about said valvethrough said float chamber to a level above the normal maximum level ofthe fuel within said float chamber, said tubular member being aperturedto permit the entry of fuel and belng air vented, above the fuel level.

16. In a fuel supply and control device, a unitary housing member havinga float chamber formed therein, a fuel inlet in communication with saidhousing member, said housing member having a strainer chamber incommunication with said inlet, a strainer within said chamber, a ductconnecting said strainer chamber and said inlet, formed in a wallof saidhousing, a valve controlling said duct, a fuel line extending from saidhousing member to the burner, an air vent for said fuel line, saidhousing wall being formed with a duct connecting said fuel line with thein- "terior of the float chamber, a. valve seat therefor positionedwithin said housing member, and a valve adapted to control it, a tubularmember surrounding said valve and extending upwardly through thefloatchamber, said to ulaimember surrounding said valve, said tubularmember being vented at one level to 10 Eermit the entry of fuel from thefloat cha!n er and being vented at a higher level to permit the escapeof air from the space about said valve.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and 35 State of Illinois the 11th doof M? 1927.

JAMES L. B EES JR.

